THE CAT. 253 



were unsupported (and perhaps more especially 

 because we are presuming that every hiss it 

 utters is a lie), might be disbelieved when it 

 appears as a witness in support of mammalian 

 mimicry. Fortunately we are able to call an 

 immense amount of the most unimpeachable 

 corroborative evidence ; and, moreover, our 

 additional deponents not only belong to a pro- 

 verbially unsophisticated and unbiassed class, but 

 are wholly unrelated to the cat family and are 

 summoned from the most diverse quarters. 



It has been remarked that the wild cats com- 

 monly make their homes in hollow trees and 

 other dark retreats where their broods are 

 fairly safe from molestation. Now if we ex- 

 amine into the habits of other creatures which 

 breed in similar places, we find that their tender 

 offspring have one common and very remark- 

 able trait. Nearly every young bird or mam- 

 mal whose nursery is in a comparatively shallow 

 hole, whether in the trunk of a tree or else- 

 where, utters a sharp hissing noise whenever 

 an apparent enemy approaches. Owls, bats, 

 titmice, woodpeckers, phalangers, dasyures, 

 hornbills, opossums, and even certain monkeys, 

 all unite with the kitten in employing this 



